On Shooting Anniversary: PM Trudeau Visits Quebec Mosque

QUEBEC – As Canadian Muslims mark two years since the shooting that left six people killed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has paid a private visit to the Quebec City mosque to meet survivors of the shooting, as well as widows of the victims. “It's been almost 2 years since 6 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Quebec City, and today I met with members of the community,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter on Friday. “Their strength &amp; courage through this tragedy - and the support &amp; solidarity they received from Canadians across the country - give&hellip;

QUEBEC – As Canadian Muslims mark two years since the shooting that left six people killed, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has paid a private visit to the Quebec City mosque to meet survivors of the shooting, as well as widows of the victims.

“It’s been almost 2 years since 6 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Quebec City, and today I met with members of the community,” Trudeau wrote on Twitter on Friday.

“Their strength & courage through this tragedy – and the support & solidarity they received from Canadians across the country – give us hope.”

It’s been almost 2 years since 6 people were killed in an attack on a mosque in Quebec City, and today I met with members of the community. Their strength & courage through this tragedy – and the support & solidarity they received from Canadians across the country – give us hope. pic.twitter.com/y4A6hYW8oF

Two years ago, a Canadian lone gunman opened fire at a mosque in Quebec City on the evening of January 29, 2017, killing six and injuring 19.

This Tuesday will mark two years since the massacre.

Friday’s meeting was closed to the media, after which PM Trudeau said, “It’s important for me to spend a little time with this community that inspires us all by its strength, its courage, and its extraordinary resilience.”

The mosque president said there was no talk of politics or of the gun registry while meeting with Trudeau. Instead, they discussed diversity and Canada’s strengths.

According to Canada’s 2011 National Household Survey, there were 1,053,945 Muslims in Canada, or about 3.2% of the population, making Islam the second largest religion in the country after Christianity.

In recent years, Islamophobic hate groups have arisen in Canada and some have created militia-like groups.

Statistics Canada reported a 151% spike in police-reported anti-Muslim hate crimes in 2017 following the Quebec mosque attack and the RCMP says far-right extremists have become emboldened in Canada.